Trianthema portulacastrum Health Dictionary

Linn.

Family: Aizoaceae.

Habitat: South India, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

Ayurvedic: Varshaabhu (related species).

Siddha/Tamil: Vellai Sharunnai.

Folk: Bisakhaparaa.

Action: Root—deobstruent; used for asthma, hepatitis and amenorrhoea. The root, leaf and stem gave positive test for alkaloid. The plant is a good source of zinc (1.077 ± 0.188) and copper (0.416 ± 0.057) mg/100 g.

Synonym: T. monogyna Linn.

Family: Aizoaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated fields and wastelands.

English: Horse Purslane.

Ayurvedic: Varshaabhu, Vrshchira, Vishakharparikaa, Shilaatikaa, Shothaghni, Kshdra. Wrongly equated with Shveta-punarnavaa or Rakta-punarnavaa. Varshaabhu and Punarnavaa are two different herbs. T. portulacastrum is a rainy season annual. Rakta-punarnavaa is equated with Boerhavia diffusa, Shveta-punarnavaa with white- flowered species, B. erecta L. (B. punarnava).

Unani: Biskhaparaa.

Siddha: Sharunai.

Folk: Pathari, Bisakhaparaa.

Action: Root—antipyretic, analgesic, spasmolytic, deobstruent, cathartic, anti-inflammatory.

Leaves—diuretic; used in oedema and dropsy. A decoction of the herb is used as an antidote to alcoholic poison.

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia recommends the dried root in diseases of the liver and spleen, anaemia and oedema.

Ethanolic extract of the aerial parts exhibited hepatoprotective activity in CCl4-induced intoxication in rats. The acetone-insoluble fraction of the extract is responsible for the activity.

The red and white flowers contain an alkaloid trianthemine, also punaranavine. The plant also gave ecdysterone (0.01 g/kg), a potential chemosterilant; nicotinic acid and ascorbic acid. The plant is rich in phosphorus and iron but poor in calcium.

The high content of oxalate affects the assimilation of calcium. Carotene (2.3 mg/100 g) has also been reported.

Trianthema sp. are used as adulterant of the roots of Boerhavia diffusa.

Dosage: Root—2-5 g powder. (API, Vol. IV.)